A Taste of Irritating Obscurity

Just a quick update: I’m working on another last-minute Tohubohu video project that I just couldn’t pass up. And in a couple of weeks, I should be able to tell you about it (though I’ll have to check on the conditions of the secrecy surrounding it). Don’t start thinking it’s anything important — it’s just something that I found particularly appropriate, and that, by its nature, requires a certain amount of discretion.

Ooh, don’t you just hate those annoyingly vague hints? Sorry about that — I’m just terrible at completely keeping secrets.

Hitting the Big Small Time

Okay, so it’s not a three-picture deal with Paramount, but it’s something, anyway.

“Screening Process” is going to be included on the Best of the National Film Challenge 2004 DVD.

Yes, that means you will soon be able to buy your very own copy, along with the other “Top 15” films.

In honor of the occasion (well, frankly, just a coincidence, but an apt one), I’ve put a copy of our first short (originally produced as my directorial audition for Project Greenlight 3), “Loose Ends,” up on our website. Give it a look, and feel free to blast away at my directorial naïveté. Still, I enjoy watching it to this day, so it can’t be all bad.

The 48 Hour Film Project is getting closer... and this one will be twice as exciting as last year (hint, hint)...

The Results Are In...

... and “Screening Process (A Loser’s Guide to Love)” is no longer an award-nominated short.

It’s an award-winning short.

Today, at about 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the National Film Challenge announced the winners for the 2004 competition, and “Screening Process” took the prize for “Best Romance.” All of the awards should be posted on the official site soon, but I thought I’d spread the word sooner rather than later. (No announcement was made as to the “top ten” for DVD inclusion — just the individual awards. So we’ve still got something to wait for.)

Congratulations to everyone involved, thanks to all of you for your hard work and unwavering dedication, and I hope this news helps inaugurate a happy holiday season!

The Suspense Is Killing Me... Again

Today is supposed to see the final announcement of the award winners for the 2004 National Film Challenge.

And as of yet... nothing.

I know, all of the previous announcements have been late, so I shouldn’t be surprised. And I know, we’re not really expecting to win anything for “Screening Process” (though I can think of a few categories in which we’ve got a decent shot). But at this stage, I can’t help but be tense with anticipation. We never expected to get this far, but at this point, I’m stuck thinking that if we can just edge out five more films, then we’ll get a slot on the “Best of the NFC 2004” DVD. Commercial distribution — limited, sure, but commercial distribution nonetheless.

I’m working on very little sleep after my latest trip (got home at about 2:30 a.m.), and I’m having trouble concentrating on much of anything else. And at this rate, I’m probably going to have to go home and crash without knowing.

I may get to bed, but I don’t know how much sleep I’ll actually be able to get.

Holy Shit

“Screening Process (A Loser’s Guide to Love)” just made the finalists round — a mere 15 films out of 161 original teams in the competition — in the 2004 National Film Challenge.

I’m absolutely stunned. This is phenomenal news. I want to take this time to offer my most sincere congratulations to everyone involved in this project, in any capacity whatsoever. There is no way we could have done this without all of your help. Filmmaking is truly a collaborative process, and it this case, it would appear we’ve got a pretty damned good collaboration going.

I’d drink myself stupid tonight if I weren’t watching the girls. So everyone else out there — it is your solemn duty to get absolutely smashed tonight in my stead.

And then I want whatever details you can remember.

Back With Big News

I want to share some big news: “Screening Process” has been selected as one of the top 50 films of the 2004 National Film Challenge.

The judging’s still going on — the official “finalists” will be announced December 1 — but this is still one hell of an honor. It’s a testament to the phenomenally talented and dedicated individuals who worked their asses off to deliver the best possible picture they could. Congratulations to all of them.

Of course, we’re not resting on our laurels. The wheels are already in motion for next spring’s 48 Hour Film Project. I’m serving as an Associate Producer for another indie project shooting right now, Bystander, and I’ve already met an even larger pool of talented folks, all equally eager to join in next time. It’s nice not to be in the position of having to beg absolutely anybody to help, the only criterion being a warm body.

On the flip side, for some positions, we may end up with multiple qualified people wanting to join in. Which has me thinking, perhaps suicidally: What if Tohubohu sponsored two teams in the competition?

We’d have a shared pool of acting talent, but — except for the necessary overlap in the executive rank (i.e., me) — the top-level production teams would be established as two independent creative groups. The big question is whether my taking on an overarching role might mean I wouldn’t be able to direct one of the films... and I don’t know that I’m ready to give up that seat just yet.

Tohubohu Gets Some Press Coverage

Now this just feels weird.

Tohubohu Productions, not to mention yours truly, has just received its first front-page newspaper article: “Burke Filmmaker Sprints to Big Screen,” now appearing in the Burke Times, the Springfield Times, and the Fairfax Station Times (and maybe others, though those are the papers for which I’ve been able to obtain copies). Okay, so we’re “below the fold,” but once the paper is placed into its little transparent plastic delivery bag, ours is the story you see.

I actually talked to a store proprietor, and he lit up when I told him that I was the one pictured. He hadn’t done more than glance at the paper as a whole, but he had taken the time to read that one article.

Yes, I’m blowing my own horn by calling attention to it. But read it anyway.

The “Screening” Screening: Reaching an Audience

Well, the “Screening Process” premiere was last night, and — not to put too fine a point on it — we kicked ass.

Now I don’t mean we kicked the ass of any other films — after all, there were some seriously creative entries presented (my personal favorite was the event’s closer, Nachismo) — but I do think we competed more than admirably, far exceeding even my expectations.

I was a little nervous to see that our picture was going to be the absolute first one shown. We’d be setting the standard against which all of the films to follow would be judged. (No, this screening wasn’t part of the “official” judging, but since the actual judges were in attendance, I can’t help but think they’d be taking audience reaction into account.) The key for me was going to be how quickly the audience “got it,” how quickly they realized that we were recreating scenes from ’80s movies. Would it be after two scenes, three, four? Would we have to wait until the later line virtually spelling it out for them?

The moment the first scene — the Sixteen Candles shot — came up, the audience burst out in laughter. With just that visual composition, they had clued into exactly what we were going for.

The big grin on my face — ably captured by the photographer from the Burke Times — only got bigger as the film progressed. The audience laughed at all the right cues, applauded at exactly the right moment when the credits rolled (you can always tell the difference between “honest enjoyment” applause and “polite appreciation” applause), and I received several compliments afterward.

Granted, being a smaller event, the National Film Challenge doesn’t bring out as many of the professionals as the 48 Hour Film Project, but we still had some very polished competitors. Still, I think we’ve got a really good shot at making the intial finalist cut: 30–50 films from a total of 151 eligible submissions.

That announcement is expected this week. And I want to take this opportunity to offer my sincerest congratulations to all of the teams that completed this monumental undertaking, and wish the best of luck to everyone.

Well, just not as much luck as I’m wishing our team. I hope you’ll understand if I’m a bit biased...

(By the way, the National Film Challenge producers have a slot at Art-O-Matic, where they’ll be screening this same set of films on December second, followed by out-of-area entries on the third. So if you missed this screening, you’ve got another chance to see some really great work.)

“Screening Process” Premiere Tonight

Just a friendly little better-late-than-never notice that the latest short from Tohubohu Productions, “Screening Process,” will be premiering at the Warehouse Theater tonight at 7:30 p.m., along with 18 other submissions from the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

Tickets are only $4 apiece — so no excuses about not having the scratch.

And by the way, we’re expecting a reporter and photographer from the Times Community Newspapers, so everyone dress nicely for the camera — and if you need any help putting together your “spontaneous” raves about the movie, I’m happy to offer my services.

“Screening Process” Available Online

Just wanted to let everyone know that our latest movie, “Screening Process,” is now available for viewing at www.tohubohuproductions.com. Even at low resolution, it’s a reasonably big file — 9.68 MB (a higher-resolution 17.62 MB version is available as well), so you’ll either need a broadband connection or one hell of a lot of patience.

While you’re at it, you can also see both the original trailer and the full movie edit of “Schlimmer,” Tohubohu’s entry into this past spring’s 48 Hour Film Project. And who knows? Maybe I’ll stick “Loose Ends” up there as well — but it’ll take me some time. Give ’em a look, and let me know what you think.

Tohubohu’s Latest Production: “Screening Process”

Sorry for the lack of posting of late — I’ve been absolutely swamped preparing for this past weekend’s National Film Challenge competition. And as of yesterday evening at 6:00 p.m., Tohubohu Productions completed its official entry, “Screening Process (A Loser’s Guide to Love),” and submitted it via FedEx. I checked this afternoon (after getting a good night’s sleep), and it was delivered at 12:44 p.m. today.

The genre we drew was “romance,” and our assigned elements were a map (prop), J. Upton, Dog Walker (character), and “You caught me at a bad time” (line of dialogue). The finished film (and forgive my teminology — I know it’s not really film, but that’s the convention the contest has adopted) tells the story of Kevin, who recounts to his friends his romantic misadventures as he attempts to recreate scenes from 1980s romantic comedies. I am really pleased with the end product, and believe that represents substantial growth in our production capabilities.

I’ll write more when I’ve got a chance — I’ve got a lot of catching up to do — but I did want to take the opportunity to say thanks to everyone involved. Everyone put in work far beyond the “call of duty,” and I can only hope that we at the tail end of things have produced a piece that accurately reflects the extraordinary effort everyone made.

The Call...

Here it is, folks. We’re getting close to “go time.”

In less than two weeks, Tohubohu Productions will launch (and complete) its next short-form motion picture, courtesy of the National Film Challenge. We’ve added several experienced folks to our roster this time around, but we’ve also lost a few of our usual cohorts.

In other words, we have positions available. Plenty of them. Everything from actors to production support, to technical assistance, to hair and makeup... you name it. So if there’s any possibility of your being in the D.C. area the weekend of October 1st through the 4th (or, most especially, Satuday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd) — and if you have any interest in being an integral part of what promises to be an exciting and rewarding creative enterprise — drop me a line A.S.A.P.

I’ve had several folks say they’d like to join, but don’t have any experience. And while I will say that experience isn’t necessary, you might be surprised at just how much experience you’ve actually got.

Good at planning and organizing meetings? You’d make a great Location Manager. Got a keen eye for detail? Step up and play Continuity Reporter. Strong organizational skills? Come help out with shoot scheduling and coordinating the call times of cast and crew. Got a big car? We can always use drivers, for both people and equipment. Like to cook (or just have contacts in the restaurant business who’d like a credits plug)? Hey, an army travels on its stomach. Like to play “scavenger hunt”? Scramble to find obscure costumes, props and locations at a moment’s notice. Have a sense of style? We’ve got openings for everything from set decoration to costumes, hair, and makeup. (Of course, if you’ve always had the coolest costumes come Halloween, you might be a shoo-in for that last one.)

In other words, if in doubt, ask. Believe me — we can find something for you to do. And while we won’t be screening at the AFI Silver Theater this time around, your name will be immortalized in the picture’s credits. And the better the job we can do, the greater the chance that we will end up with that screening...

Tohubohu Rides Again

Well, it’s official: Tohubohu is entered into the National Film Challenge. So now, like it or not — seeing as how I just shelled out a C-note — we’re making a movie, dammit.

So if you think you’ve got anything to offer, give me a shout-out! Things are going to be a bit more organized than last time around, so the sooner we’ve got our cast and crew set, the smoother things will go. Especially since we’re already talking about pushing the envelope a bit...

Damn!

The XL2 is here. I don’t know how I missed this.

And while it’s not HD, it’s still one kick-ass camera.

Anyone got about five grand they’re looking to give away? Or hell, I’d settle for borrowing one for this fall’s National Film Challenge.

Oh, did I mention that Tohubohu will be participating in this year’s competition? Well, we are.

So if anyone out there wants in, speak now...

The Return of “Schlimmer”

Just wanted to let folks in the D.C. area (or any of you willing to travel) know that we’ll be having another screening of “Schlimmer” this Wednesday evening — two, in fact.

We — along with several other local entrants in this year’s 48-Hour Film Project (among other films) — will be screening in the back room at Aroma in Cleveland Park. The screenings are at 7:00 and 9:00, and while space is limited, I’d certainly like to see as many friendly faces in the audience as possible. Besides, since I’m the one mastering the DVD for the screening (something I’m working on right now), I figure I’m pretty much guaranteed a seat, right?

I hope to see some of you there! I don’t know if we’ll be having any director/cast/crew Q&A after (or between) screenings, but you bring the “Q,” and I’ll do my best to provide the “A.”

Dénouement

Well, the screening’s finished, and I feel... well, I have mixed feelings. The screening itself went well — in terms of overall quality, I think we were in the middle of the pack — but I couldn’t help but notice all the things we could have done better — even accounting for the time limit. Still, there’s nothing to be done about it now, so I’ll just have to consider them lessons learned for next time.

We have to keep a much tighter rein on the writing process. Yes, I’ll still need the actors to handle a large part of their own characterizations, back story, and such, but we’ll need to have just a few people (at most) handle plot, and probably even general character arcs. With luck, this’ll be easier once I have a better understanding of the preferences and capabilities of our “troupe.”

We’ve got to have a much more rigidly defined set of roles for our crew, and as a corollary, I need to be much more assertive about enforcing those roles (it also might help to have an on-set producer with a temperature below 103 degrees...). It’s hard when you’ve started by basically begging anyone and everyone to help out in any way they can, but now that we’re a little more established, I think we’ll be able to be a little more demanding. Not that everyone didn’t make a huge effort, but there are times when we need to make sure that people are doing their assigned tasks, and not those of others.

We can’t let our need to work quickly detract from our insistence on professionalism. In editing (and later, in viewing the finished product), I noticed how we’d short-changed things like on-set color checking and exposure levels in the interests of speed. And while I’ll defend the effort I made at setting up our opening shots — which put us behind schedule but served as a necessary starting point for our picture — we’ll have to make sure that part of that setup time is devoted to making sure the camera’s actually picking up what we need it to.

There are other things we’ll need to remember for next time (setting audio levels properly, considering more creative choices in editing), but the most important thing to remember is that there will be a next time. Tohubohu lives — and I’m already kicking around some ideas for another project...

Tonight’s the Night!

Ooh, I’m all atwitter with anticipation.

Tonight, at long last, my big-screen debut as an indie director. Frankly, I can’t even begin to explain the excitement this brings. I mean, sure, I had produced “Loose Ends” before, but that never got shown except to friends and family — and certainly never got projected up on a real movie screen. (No, running it through a tabletop projector at the office doesn’t count.)

I’ve mastered at least a rough version of a Tohubohu DVD; it’s pretty bare-bones at the moment, but the structure’s assembled — and frankly, even now it’s got more “extras” than some commercial releases. For “Loose Ends,” there’s a Director/D.P. commentary track, on-screen text notes, the original Project Greenlight edit, cast and crew mini-bios, original storyboards (with running commentary), a slew of production photographs, the complete original script, and selections from the soundtrack. For “Schlimmer,” the selection is obviously a little lighter, with just a promotional trailer, cast and crew bios, and the soundtrack pieces. But I’m not through yet — we’ll be putting some more on there soon enough. In fact, I’ve structured the disc so that we can add films as they get produced; after all, even with all of that stuff, we’re using up less than half of the available space on the disc. (Now all we have to do is get the website working and I’ll be able to post updates...)

Well, for those of you who are coming to the screening, I’ll see you there — I’ll be the guy in the “Where’s the Schlimmer?” T-shirt bouncing around like a rat on crack.

Aaand... That’s a Wrap!

I can hardly believe it, but yes, it’s done.

We handed our tapes in with time to spare, after a particularly grueling post-production process. After my last post, I kept editing until about 8 a.m., finishing the rest of the rough edit, then Ginny came back in to do audio fixes, color correction, and cleanup, and then around noon we both worked on polishing things up. I’ll admit we were a bit nervous at not having some necessary graphics or music until Sunday afternoon, but once we got them, we couldn’t have been more ecstatic. The graphic design (by producer Geoff Long) was perfect, and the music was phenomenal — Scott Andrew LePera gave us not one but two tracks, which allowed us to incorporate a tension-inducing drumbeat underneath several scenes.

I’m slowly getting back up to speed again — a good thing given how much work I’ve got to catch up on. We were working almost literally up until the last minute (our final running time was 7:53, including credits), but we did it. And for me, the real test came when we showed it to a couple of “outsiders”; I’ll admit that I’m too close to the project to judge it objectively, but seeing their reactions made me realize that we’d really accomplished what we set out to do.

So where do we go from here? Well, the first step is obviously this Friday’s screening. We’ve started a sort of “viral marketing” strategy, pushing the tagline “Where”s the Schlimmer?” along with “Tohubohu Productions” (and the not-yet-up-and-running website, tohubohuproductions.com).

In related news, I’ve decided to include my last short, “Loose Ends,” under the Tohubohu umbrella. I’m doing this largely because I’d like to ensure that Tohubohu remains a viable entity going forward, and while “Schlimmer” was our first official production, I kind of like the idea of our having a “library” of material. It’s as if our made-up production company “Tohubohu” bought out my other made-up production company, “C Media.“

As for the future, we’re not finished yet. As far as I’m concerned, I can officially announce that we will be reuniting for next year’s 48-Hour Film Project, and if we’re up for it, I’d also like to propose working on the National Film Challenge — picture the 48-Hour Film Project on a national scale. Of course, that may depend on how we fare in this competition, but I can’t help but start thinking ahead.

Beyond that? We’ll just have to see. But for right now, it’s on to the screening!

Oh, I Can’t Be Getting Tired Yet

Yes, you’re reading that time-stamp correctly. It’s three a.m., and I’m only now about to start my “shift” as editor on our little picture. Not that we haven’t done any editing yet — Ginny’s been cutting like mad since three this afternoon (after helping shoot since nine a.m.), and only just left to get some sleep about an hour ago. Right now, my workstation’s capturing all of our later footage (i.e., the tapes we made after Ginny started on the first set).

For those of you keeping track, the genre we drew was “Mystery,” and the three randomly selected requisite elements were a character named “S. Baxter, a professional photographer,” a “rubber duck” as our prop, and, “You know, I love the _______,” as our line of dialogue. I won’t go into any detail just yet (particularly since the machine just finished capturing the footage, and I’ve got to get back to work), but it’s entitled “Schlimmer.”

Want to know more? Be sure to pick up a ticket to next Friday’s screening...

Almost Showtime!

The cast and crew are a complete as we’re gonna get ’em, Geoff’s got the production well in hand, we’ve got our equipment (thanks in no small part to a more-than-generous contribution from the Creative Solutions Group at the Corporate Executive Board), we’ve got a decent array of locations secured...

Now, all we can do is wait.

Just a little more than three hours to go...